Improvement in apparatus for holding and counting coin



2 Sheets-Sheet- 1.

J. W. MEAKER. Apparatus forHolding and Counting-Coin.

No. 201,264. Patented March 12,1878.

[1 1 I 0 I I 2SheetB-8heet 2. J. W. MEAKER.

Apparatus for Holding andflounting Coin. N0. 20!,264;

Patented Marc 12, I878.

N PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHPNGTON. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JoHN w. MEAKE OF CHICAGO, ILLI OIs, AssIcNoH or. TWO-THIRDSOF HIS RIGHT TO HARVEY B. MERRELL, OF MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY, AND THOMAS FERGUSON, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR HOLDING ANoccuNTme com.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,264, dated March 12, 1878; application filed January 25, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oHN W. MEAKER, of the city'of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Holding and Counting Coin; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to" the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view; Fig. 2, alongitudinal'verti-cal section on the line a: m, Fig,

1; and Fig. 3 is a front elevation.

The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for detecting counterfeit coin in connection with one for holding-coins of all denominations, so that they can be readily as sorted according to their denominations, and each kind'paid out in quantities, or by the single piece, ortogether, as may be desired."

The drawings show devices for only one denomination or size; but it is apparent that any number, suitable for all denominations or sizes, may be arranged, and connected so as to form a single apparatus.

In the drawings,.A represents a tray of any height, length, and breadth desired, cast of metal or made of other suitable material, for holding coins B, grouped in any desired quantities, as shown in Fig. 2, without any intervening spaces, so that they can be conveniently taken up, as shown in the same figure. The upper fiat surface of the tray is provided with countersunk semi-cylindrical receptacles, with their axes inclined toward the horizon, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for holding the coin in groups, as shown in the same figures, in which they are represented as containing ten pieces, each of the value of a half dollar, as shown by an index, D, Fig. 1, on the top of the tray. Each succeeding semi-cylindrical receptacle is placed on the same level as the preceding one, so that, their axes being inclined, the base of each succeeding one sinks deeper into the tray than the summit of the preceding one. Thus a vertical section line through the bottom of the recessed parts of the tray is a zigzag, as shown in Fig. 2. By this construction andarrangement, when a quantity of coin arranged close together, as in a pile, is held horizontally over the semicylindrical recesses in the tray and dropped, each compartment will take the exact number of coin H for which it is gaged, and the upper surface of the entire quantity'of coin will show a profile line corresponding with the section line through-the bottom of the recessed part, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The coin H thus arranged may then be readily taken up by the thumb and finger a 1), commencing at the-nearest compartment, in quantities corresponding with the length of each compartment, as shown in the same figure. Each group of coin follows the other in a solid pile 'fromone end of the countersunk recess to the other.

The index D maybe arranged on the tray and alongside of therecess, to indicate the number of 1 coins that each, as well as the number that the whole, will contain, as shown in Fig. 1.

When desired, single coins may be taken off from the back end of those in a compartment. In case the tray A is desired to contain more than one series of recesses, either for coin of the same or of difl'erent denominations, it can be made of the required width.

Upon the end of the tray A, and in front of the receptacles O, a semi-cylinder, E, is arranged by being cast or constructed with it, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and so as to stand with a slight incline backward, as clearly shown in the same figures. It has a circular base, F, and may be of any diameter desired. It is provided with projecting flanges c, with grooves cl therein at its lateral extremities, upon which*a semi-cylinder, G, is arranged to move vertically, being provided with tongues g at its outer extremities, to fit in the grooves d, as shown in the figures. This semi-cylinder G moves up and down over the circular base F of the stationary semi-cylinder E, as shown in all the figures. On each side of this movable semi-cylinder; lugs e are attached, through which there are holes to receive pins,

upon which are pivoted L-shaped dogs f,

as shown in Fig. 3. These dogs f are so pivoted that their outer ends, which are the heaviest, fall against the outer sides of the movable semi-cylinder, while their inner ends project over the circular bottom of the stationary cylinder, and hold the movable one in place, as shown in all the figures. These dogs are also so adjusted on their fulcrums that when in the position last mentioned the space between the lower sides of their inner ends and the upper edges of the movable semi-cylinder is slightly more than the thickness of one of the coins intended to be contained in the cylinder, as shown.

The operation of these devices will be readily seen. When coin I, either singly or in quantities, are placed in the semi-cylinder E, then the movable semi-cylinder Gis raised or moved upward, and the ends of the dogs f thrown outward by the weightof the coin till they pass above the coin, when they resume their normal position, with their inner ends resting upon the top of the coin, and supporting the movable semicylinderto a height corresponding with that of the coin, except that there is just room for the coin to be removed singly by a slight movement of the finger g, as shown in Fig. 2. After one coin is removed the movable semi-cylinder drops down the distance of the thickness of the coin, and so on till all are removed.

An index, I, is arranged on the side of the semi-cylinder E, to register the number of coin therein, as shown in Fig. 3. Upon the end of the tray A opposite to that on which the semi-cylindrical receptacle E is placed a counterfeit and light-weight coin detector is arranged. It is an improvement on the device shown' in my application filed December 24, 1877, and, like that, consists of an oblong metallic plate, J, having testing-gage lips 70 on one end, and a stop, l, near its center. It

is suspended between arms m, standing at an angle with the tray, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Just below the point of suspension a crossbar, n, is so arranged as to support the plate in a horizontal position when a genuine coin is placed upon it, as shown in Fig. 1, and to secure its automatic rejection of the coin when too light, as shown in Fig. 2.

In my former application the plate was held in a horizontal position by the hand, which could not always be done with certainty.

By means of these devices cashiers and others can pay out coin in large or small quantities, as well as fractional parts of a dollar, with ease and rapidity.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isy 1. A tray provided with one or more series of inclined semi-cylindrical recesses, each series forming one continued recess, with its bottom broken up into inclines, as shown and described, forholdin g coin in adjoining groups, as set forth.

2.'The combination of the semi-cylinder E and the movable semi-cylinder G, provided with the dogs f, constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 3. The apparatus herein described, consisting of the tray A, cast with the inclined semicylindrical recesses O on its upper surface and the semi-cylindrical recess E on its end, in combination with the movable cylinder G, provided with dogs f, and the metallic plate J, supporting-arms m, and cross-bar n, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN W. MEAKER. Witnesses:

CHAS. O. BLAYNE Y, GEO. A. MASON. 

